Banjo



(No Model.)

J. J. DOYLE.

BANJO.

No. 894,348. Patented Dec. 11, 1888.

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BY M g ATTORNEY,

Nv PETERS. Fholo-LflhngrAphen Washington UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES J. DOYLE, OF ALBANY, NEIY YORK.

BANJO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 394,348, dated December 11, 1888.

Application filed May 18, 1888. Serial No. 274,332. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES J. DOYLE, of Albany, in the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Banjos, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in that class of musical instruments of which the banjo may be regarded as a representative; and the invention consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a banjo constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the body portion of same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on about line an as, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on about line 'y y, Fig. 3. Figs. 5, 6, '7, and 8 are detail views illustrating different constructions for securing the lower ends of the strings; and Fig. 9 is an enlarged section on about line 5 2, Fig. l.

I11 carrying out my invention I secure the head A within the rim B and the handle C at its inner end to said rim at one side of the said rim. This handle has at its upper end the keys for the separate strings, by which the said strings can be individually and independently tuned, and is provided at its inner end with hook-like flanges D, which, engaging within the opposite edges of the rim, secure the handle thereto. By preference these hooks are provided on front and rear plates, D D, the front plate having a portion, d, overlapping the head, and both front and rear plates being lapped against the handle next the rim and suitably secured, a bolt, D being preferably passed through the handle and both plates and receiving a nut, (1 by tightening which the connectingplates may be clamped firmly against the i edges of the rim. This construct-ion forms a simple, strong, and convenient connection:

between the handle and rim. The portion d of the front connection-plate overlaps the head; and I also provide what may be termed keeper-plates, E, having arms c secured to the rim and arms 6- extended inwardly from the rim and over they head. The head holding and stretching mechanism comprises two rings, F and G, the head A being bent over the inner or bearing ring, F, and

secured to the head-supporting ring G, the ring F having a central bearing at f for the head-adjusting screw II, and the ring G, also having a central bearing at g, in which the screw I'I fits. By preference I make the bearing g threaded and the bearing an opening to receive the tenon-like portion 71 on the inner end of the adjusting-screw II. On the inner or bearing ring I support a facing, I, preferably of wood, which bears against the head, as shown.

lly turning the screw II in one or the other direction the head may be tightened or loosened to any desired degree. In order to hold the head and its supporting and stretching devices in the rim, I provide retaining-lugs J, and serewsj, for securin the same, the screws being preferably passed through slots in the rim, as shown, so the lugs can be adjusted as may be desired. \Yithin the rim I support the sounding-wire K, arranged near the inner side of the head. This sounding-wire preferably coiled and supported concentrically with the head. In the construction shown I secure the soumIing-wire by means of a screw, I., turned through a loop in the wire and into the end 71 of the screw II.

A brace, M, extends across the rear of the rim and connects at one end with the handle and at its opposite end with the rim at the side of the latter opposite the handle. 13y preference this brace is formed in two side lengths or sections ext ended on opposite sides of the central ad ,justing-screw, II, as shown.

The string-holder of the rear or tail piece device is a bar or short shaft, N, to which the strings are secured at their rear ends. This string-holder is simple, convenient, and economical. In Fig. 7 I show the said holder as supported in seats or bearings in the main plate 0 of the tail device, which plate is secured to the rim.

Figs. 5 and (1 show the holder as a shaft journaled in hearings in said holder and having sockets p in one of its extended ends to receive pins 1), which form handles by which the holder may be adjusted rotarily to tighten or loosen the strings, one of the pins 1) serving when the strings are tightened up to hold the shaft and strings by the bearing of said pin against the rim. In Figs. 1 and 8, how

ever, I show the short shaft or bar-holder held in a lug orbearing-piece, Q, having a threaded opening for the screw R, which turns in a bearing in the main plate 0, so that by turning the screw the lug or bearing-piece Q may be adjusted to increase or reduce the tension of the strings.

In order to readjust the tension of the strings by means of the screw, I provide the head of the screw and the main plate 0 with registering marks or characters, usually a line, 0, forming an indicator on the plate 0, and a series of graduations, r, on the screw head, so the screw when turned from one position may be brought back accuratelyto that position when so desired.

By securing the strings at one end, all to one adj ustably-supported holder, and at their opposite ends to independent individual keys, the strings may be independently tuned for playing, and after playing may all be lowered, in order to avoid breaking the strings, and then raised again by the proper adjustment of the holder when it is again desired to play on the instrument.

In securing the head to the ring G, I prefer to employ a wire, bin ding the head tightly to the said ring and secured at its ends by twisting.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. In a banjo, the combination of the rim, the head fitted within said rim, and the handle provided at its inner end with hook-like flanges engaging the opposite edges of the rim, substantially as set forth.

2. In a banjo, the combination of the rim, the head fitted within said rim, the handle, and the connection-plates secured to the inner end of the handle and having hook-like flanges engaging the rim, substantially as set forth.

3. In a banjo, the combination, with the rim and the handle, of the connection-plates lapped against the opposite sides of the'handle and having hook-like flanges engaging the rim, and the bolt passed through the handle and connection-plates and having a nut, by tightening which the connection-plates may be clamped firmly against the rim, substantially as set forth.

4. In a banjo, a bearing-ring provided with a facing of wood, substantially as set forth.-

5. 111 a banjo, the combination, with the rim and the head, of the bearing ring having a central bearing for the adjustingscrew, the head-supporting ring having a central screw-threaded opening, the screw fitted to said -opening and engaging the bearingring, the sounding-wire, and the screw for securing such wire to the adjusting-screw, substantially as set forth.

6. In a banjo, the combination of the rim, the head secured, therein, and the keeperplates secured to the rim and extended in wardly therefrom, lapping the face of the head, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of the rim, the head, the ring to which said head is fixed, the bearing-ring, the screw for adjusting the tension of the head, the retaining-lugs, and the screws for securing said lugs, substantially as set forth.

8. In a banjo, the head-stretehing device herein described, consisting of the bearingring havin a central bearing for the adj usting-screw, the -headsupporting ring having a central screw-threaded opening, and the screw fitted to said opening and engaging the bearing-ring, substantially as set forth.

9. In a banjo, the combination of the rim, the inner or bearing ring, a facing of wood held on said ring, the outer ring, and an ad justing-screw, substantially as set forth.

1.0. In a banjo, the combination of the rim, the handle secured to said rim, the head, the central screw for adjusting the tension of said head, and the rear brace formed of two side lengths or sections extended on opposite sides of the central adjusting-screw, substantially as set forth.

11. In a banjo, the combination of the head, the string-holder consisting of a short shaft or cross-bar and a support therefor, the shaft being held adjustably and its support being connected with the head, substantially as set forth.

12. In aban j o, the combination of the head, the tail device comprising the main plate, having a bearing for the adj usting-screw, the adjusting-screw, a bearing-piece connected with said screw, and the strings connected with said bearing-piece, substantially as set forth.

13. In a banjo, the combination of the main plate of the tail device, having a bearing for the adj usting-screw, and the adj usting-screw fitting said bearing, the plate adjacent the bearing and the screw being provided with marks or characters by the aid of which the screw when turned from one position may be adjusted accurately back to said position when desired, substantially as set forth.

1 1. In a banjo, the combination of the rim, the head, the tail device consisting of the bearing-piece having a threaded opening for the screw and an opening for the cross-bar or shaft holding the strings, the main plate fixed to the head and having a bearing for the screw, and the screw turning in said bearing and threaded in the bearing-piece, all substantiallyas and for the purposes specified.

JAMES J. DOYLE.

\Vitnesses:

THOMAS E. DOYLE, HENRY AIREY. 

